“Draw me after you; let us run.” Song of Solomon 1:4 (ESV)
We must not walk after the Lord — but run! The writer of Hebrews tells believers to “run with endurance” (Hebrews 12:1). The Apostle Paul writes, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it” (1 Corinthians 9:24). Running symbolises a longing for God and a vigorous faith in Him. Psalm 119:32 says, “I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart.”
When the children of Israel worshipped the golden calf, they “sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play” (Exodus 32:6). While Joseph’s brothers sat to eat a meal, they schemed about selling him (Genesis 37:25). It is a great catastrophe when the people of God sit down. They must run with all their heart, not listening to whispers or shouts from different sides but rejecting any hindrance. We must run with our bodies stretched forward to seize the prize, before our feet arrive at our goal.
The faithful soul who runs, leading other people to Christ, takes on a great responsibility. When Paul preached in Rome, he knew that those who responded to his message could be thrown to the wild beasts in the arena. They could be crucified or burned at the stake. Should he have preached in such circumstances or remained silent? Is it right to propagate an idea that will send people to prison, torture and death? Many must have cursed Paul when his preaching brought sorrow and loss to their families. But when you are drawn by Jesus Christ, you must encourage others to run after him too.
I was in jail with a man who was led to Christ by the famous Romanian poet Traian Dorz. The man, who had been imprisoned for his faith, had a wife and six children at home. When I asked him if he resented Dorz for setting him on this dangerous path, he said, “I can’t thank him enough.”
In the underground church, pastors give assignments to church members that might result in their death. They ask them to organise secret printing presses and transport Christian literature from place to place. If they are caught, these people will go to prison. Because of those printing presses, many people have died.
Our mission has sent couriers into communist and Islamic countries to smuggle Christian books. One of them was beaten to death in China. Others were wounded while taking Bibles into Mozambique when it was under communist influence.
Soul winners in the underground church cannot be complacent. They must remember that their brothers and sisters may die for what they tell them to believe and do. All Christians must be taught to carry the cross and renounce the self. Soul winners must know and practise this before teaching it to others. Therefore, may we followers of Christ always affirm these words: “We will run!”
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